Diana Photo Thanks to Sam Vinegar - photrama
Point and Shoot Medium Format Toy
Cameras
by Robert Monaghan
Point and Shoot Medium Format Toy
Cameras
by Robert Monaghan
Related Links:
300+ Disposable Camera Collector's Pages (Sylvain Halgand) [5/2002]
Annie and Carl's Camera Collection Pages
Capturing Mermaids with a Holga (NYIP article) [12/2002]
Holga and Woca (glass lens Holga) US Source [7/2001]
Holga Camera page (Canadian $30 $CAN)
Holga Modifications Pages (pinholes..) [7/2001]
Holga Polaroid Options (no kidding!) [6/2002]
Holga Site [5/2002]
Low Cost "Toy" Cameras Review Pages (aka "Crappy Camera Pages")
Modified Holgas for sale (see mods page for ideas..) [10/2000]
Rocket 120 Camera (an early toy tin camera)
Toy Camera Webring [04/2000]
Q: Describe Point and Shoot MF Cameras
These point and shoot MF cameras are typically an ultra-low cost roll-film
camera with poor construction and a cheap plastic lens.
The original Diana
camera is a good example, a mid-1960s onward import that
cost only $2.50 US. The Diana was used to refocus photography instruction
onto making images, rather than on the camera hardware. The larger 120
film negative was very helpful with students in the darkroom too. A
similar argument using the Lubitel 166
TLR can be made too.
A currently available (for only $15 US) Holga 120S
roll-film
6x4.5cm camera even offers hot shoe flash synch. You never need to worry
about batteries either, as it doesn't take any! As you might expect,
these toy cameras have reported glitches with film spacing and light
leaks. Owners cooperate in sharing solutions online and in various
forums. Among the toy camera
characteristics are guaranteed light leaks, unknown shutter
speed, and constant ridicule from serious photographers.
Huge numbers of fixed focus lens, one speed shutter roll-film cameras
were
made, typified by the popular Kodak brownie cameras. Some variants such
as the Super Kodak
620 were rather high end 620 film 6x9cm cameras. Be careful to ensure
that
the camera doesn't use hard to obtain 127 or
620 film but rather standard 120 films. Although very old, so many
Kodak brownies and the like were made that they aren't worth much as
collectibles. Costs are often under $10 US for a camera your parents may
have used!
Sample Toy Camera Ad
rec.photo.marketplace
From: Christopher Biggs [email protected]
[1] ''Diana De Luxe'' Medium format plastic camera with flash-sync
Date: Sun Feb 15 19:10:16 CST 1998
I have a plastic medium format camera that I don't think I'll ever find the
time to use...
It's a ''Diana De Luxe'' in very good condition with no scratches on
lens or viewfinder. It has original lens cap and wrist-strap.
Focusing is by scale on lens barrel, marked in feet and metres from
four feet to infinity (six positions).
Aperture setting is three-position (f/16 to f/5.6 I believe).
Shutter 1/50 second.
Flash hot shoe.
US$50.00 plus postage. Offers or trade considered.
(replies by email please)
--
| Christopher J. Biggs | EMAIL: [email protected] (PGP and MIME OK)
From: [email protected]
[1] Anyone using a Holga? (c'mon, admit it)
Date: Tue Apr 14 21:41:56 CDT 1998
I'm just curious -- anyone out there using a Holga on a regular/semi-regular
basis? I'm posting this with the realization that I may be inviting the
ridicule of the technophiles out there, but I have to admit there are times
when I leave the 4x5 at home in favor of this lightweight, clunky, primitive
pile of plastic. I've had a lot of fun with this camera, and it has taught
me a lot about photography. I think that while such cheesy, crappy, plastic
cameras that acquire cult status can end up being the last refuge of the
untalented and underexperienced, they can be a welcome relief from the
high-tech instrumentation and precise technique that sometimes threaten to
take the fun out of photography (for me anyway).
I'm interested in how other people have used this camera, and others like it
(i.e., the Lubitel, old Brownies, etc). Is there room for a discussion about
low-tech techniques and equipment here? I think that some of these
cameras,with their lousy plastic lenses and brainless operation, can make
beautiful pictures.
From: (Kathy Hand) [email protected]
[1] Re: Anyone using a Holga? (c'mon, admit it)
Date: Tue Apr 14 21:38:21 CDT 1998
check out these URLs: http://www.concom.com/~winters/toy_home.htm (click on Toy Camera Forum for a newsgroup devoted to plastic cameras.) http://www.zone-2.com/Plastic/index.html http://members.aol.com/hpargotohp/diana.html http://rpcp.mit.edu:80/~gingold/photo/lubitel/ http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=toycamring&list also, use your favorite search engine to search for "Holga" or "Diana camera." lots of cool stuff out there. hope this is helpful. Kathy Hand
[Ed. Sample ad for price info, probably long sold ;-)]
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace
Subject: FS: Holga 120S
Date: Wed, 03 Jun 1998
For sale:
Holga 120S in ex condition. Holga's have individual personalities, and
believe me, this one has character! Includes original cap.
$10 shipped to your door
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: "Taj" [email protected]
[2] Re: LUBITEL OR HOLGA
Date: Tue Feb 23 20:33:12 CST 1999
http://www.freestylesalesco.com/holga.html#Holga 120S
http://store.porters.com/Store/product_list_js.asp?BrowseImage=68&OrderID=5H
CU831ZCNHP0W5
TURNNORTH [email protected] wrote
>looking for a lubitel or holga 120mm camera. if you have one to sell, please >email me or leave message at 312.740.1270. thank you. david.
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: "Matt O" nojunkspam@nojunkspam
[1] Re: $152 for a lubitel?
Date: Sun Dec 19 07:58:24 CST 1999
> Freestyle sell what they call "toy" cameras, including Diana-type plastic > things with coke-bottle lenses, at $15 (Holga).
Walmart Online sells Holgas for $13.22. Such a deal!
http://www.walmart.com/
They also have a relabel Seagull TLR for about $150.
Oddly, Walmart Online doesn't sell 120 film.
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000
From: Michael [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: All the really fine old 620 cameras and such
I have been reading your ideas on rerolling film to fit 620 cameras and I love the prospect! I am currently using, however, several slightly modified, 120 box cameras. The are made by AGFA, and ANSCO and I recently bought a SEARS box for the staggering sum of $12.00!!! Most of the cameras are cardboard, have a very slight shutter mechanism, about an f8-11 hole( I never put it on a bench to test the apeture) and shoot at around 50th s. These things are so simple and so cheap and they shoot 120 film! I usually remove the single crappy lense element and reverse it to force the edge distortion and come up with some interesting results. Several models even have a "bulb" locking mechanism! I attached a block with a 1/4-20 female nut to the vertical and horizontal side and rigged a port for a shutter release cable to do time exposures when I feel the urge. Don't get too caught up in "perfect" camera/lense configurations. I urge you more artistic types to give it a try! While really excellent lenses and shutters and cameras are there to use as well, I work with so many great lenses commercially, that using something less perfect than RODENSTOCK or ZEISS optics becomes a challenge to my ability to compose for the sake of form. A very important part of shooting. I will try Al's method of rerolling as I have again, several VERY Inexpensive "toy" cameras that are 620. WHat a wonderful world it is!!!
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000
From: Michael [email protected]
To: Robert Monaghan [email protected]
Subject: Re: All the really fine old 620 cameras and such
Robert! Thanks for the reply. One of the things, without doing alot of
"research", that I have learned from these box cameras and flipping the
lense elements is that some are pretty flat or proportionate and others
are more convex. While the flat ones don't alter the middle focus ground
much at all, keeping the same relative distance for close-ups at about 5-6
feet, others, llike my Sears Marvel, having the more convex lenses
element, enable an actual shift in the the distance, camera to subject, by
a couple feet! Relatively speaking of course, they actually hold focus at
around three feet which is great for portraits and with the lense flipped,
they shoot a great soft edged image of people or your dog or what have
you!
I am on the hunt now for $8.00 boxes that shoot 120. I understand that
there are many folders out there that shoot 120. Have you played with
those
much? I would like to send some images to you. Where do I send them?
Stay in touch. \
Having a blast!
Toodles
Michael
From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999
From: [email protected]
Subject: [Rollei] Re: Heat & Stuff OT
Roy Feldman [email protected]
writes:
> I just attended a seminar with documentary photographer Chris Rainier who, > while doing an assignment in the Saudi Dessert, decided to take the Holga > camera for it's "legendary" lens characteristics. He reported that his > cameras had melted into plasic puddles.
Have you seen the new Porter's catalog?
http://store.porters.com/Store/main.asp
"Holga 120S Roll Film Camera Modern day equivalent of the traditional box
camera. Intended to recapture the photographic fun of by-gone days. With
the Holga, a double exposure need not be a mistake, but can be a
photo-artists delight. And miswinding can result in a panorama like photo.
A less than sharp lens can be a creative advantage for portraits, glamour,
dreamscapes and more. In truth, the Holga is a rewarding carry-along
companion for unusual pictures your regular camera can't make. For the
price of a single-use camera, how can anyone go wrong."
I wonder how you get a "panorama like photo" by "miswinding".
Here's a link to some user comments.
http://www.obscurasite.com/toy_home/comments.htm
One user mentions a plastic Diana camera melting on the front seat of
his car.
R. J. Bender (A Nikon, Mamiya and Rollei user. )
http://homepages.infoseek.com/~rbender/RS.htm
Date: Sat Apr 01 22:16:36 CST 2000
From: Tony Spadaro [email protected]>
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.equipment.misc,rec.photo.misc
[1] Re: First Look at $11.95 LOMO all manual 35mm camera
I went all out and bought the LOMO 8M at 14.95. I was going to take
out the lens and turn it into a pinhole camera. I put a roll of colour
Negative through to test it and was surprized at how good it was. Now
it's in limbo. Should I use it "as is" or follow through on my original
plan? Anyhow there is a shot from that roll on my website, under Tip #1.
--
Digital Photo restoration in Chapel Hill N.C.
http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/magor/tony
Temporary home of "The TeleConverter page"
http://dark_alley_photography.homestead.com/Darkalleyretouch.html
From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000
From: Bresler [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Rollei] HOLGA
Hi Rich,
I have 2 Holgas. I had a Diana destroyed by my 2 year old son
about 13 years ago. The Holgas are fun, with plenty of fall-off
(sharpness and vignetting) at the corners. If anything the lenses are a
bit too sharp in the center. There are several websites related to
modifying the Holga, including how to make the lens less sharp. Try
Bill
----------
From Rollei Mailing List;
Rich Lahrson asks:
Hi Rick-
I've used it for b/w, color (neg and chromes) and stereo photography...
really enjoy it and get lots of raves for the dream-like quality of the
images. Lots of softness/color fringing away from the center, not too
crazy in the center (see warning below). Fixed shutter which is relatively
consistent (about 1/100th), two apertures of around f/8 and f/11. Lens
states a fl of 60 mm, my guess is it's not that wide but maybe 65-70. Lots
of light fall-off using the full 6 x 6 format... much less using the 645
mask. Had excellent luck with velvia in winter's full sun here in
boston... also pulled tri-x; xp-2 produces dense but still printable negs
in full summer sunlight and gets better as the light fails... have had
good luck with it indoors by window light for situational portraits which
this camera romances like crazy... shooting stereo with this camera is an
unexpected treat as this usually demands high resolution but somehow works
with the Holga.
Got mine from Porters for $14... FreeStyle sells 'em, too. I also use them
as teaching tools and gifts. Bring black tape for light leaks and
viewfinder masking and have a blast.
WARNING: those listmembers who only care about SHARP SHARP SHARP and not
about the emotional quality of the photographs themselves, stick to
shooting your lens test charts and don't bother with this camera, it'll
only give you heartburn...
Eric Goldstein
From Rollei Mailing List;
R. J. Bender wrote:
Hot shoe.
Not meaning to get on your case... I hear this all the time, and frankly
it drives me crazy!! Each lens produces it's own unique character which
cannot be duplicated after the fact...some of us shoot classics for this
very reason!! This is just another example of using the right tool in
the right situation to create the image we want, which is what
creative/art photography is all about. If you are shooting an assignment
for a client and they may want to use the image for multiple
applications, then the Holga is probably not a good choice... although I
have at time added a couple of rolls of holga shots to assignments if I
thought it might work...
Truthfully, photographers constantly make all kinds of choices up front
which place limits on their results in the end... lens, film, format...
as i see it this is just one more...
You show them your portfolio... :-)
Not yet... :-)
Eric Goldstein
From Rollei Mailing List:
I agree. While you can duplicate some types of soft focus in
Photoshop and other programs, you can not duplicate the specific
look of certain lenses. For example I have an old Spiratone
soft focus lens in T-mount which has uncorrected spherical aberration
and makes really nice photos. I could never duplicate the effect
it produces in Photoshop, or at least not in any reasonable number
of hours!
Bob
....
From Rollei Mailing List;
....
I think this has been mentioned before ..... the Holga 120S sells for
$17.95 at Porters:
www.porters.com
The lens is 60mm f8 with focusing (?) It has a hot shoe. The picture on
page 18.
The ad says it is a good companion to the Studio Rollei.
Roger
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000
If you'd like to see what a Holga can do, check out the current issue of
Lenswork Quarterly, where you'll find a portfolio of black and white
images
by Annu Palakunnathu Matthew. As you'll see, she favors images that
include steam and fog in the frame, and often shoots against the light,
accentuating the Holga's dreamy character.
You can download (as a pdf file) a one-image sample from the Lenswork site
(www.lenswork.com-see p. 25 of the file named lwq28s.pdf), or look for a
copy of the magazine (Borders and Barnes and Noble carry it here) for the
full 15-image portfolio.
Happy viewing!
--Ben
From Rollei Mailing List;
Why would anyone want to spend $18.50 for a HOLGA from ebay, when you can
buy them for $15.00 from The Maine Photographic Resource?
http://www.theworkshops.com/resource/frames/holgaframe.html
From Rollei Mailing List;
I have put together a three-page Holga users guide in PDF format that will
be available for download from our site later today. It contains general
Holga information, user tips and recommendations, and a few tips on
modifying the camera. We are having a Holga show in our gallery in August
(any contributors?).
We sell Holgas for $16.95, and have a current special: a Holga, two rolls
of 120 Tri-x, and processing and contact sheets for $29.95! Such a deal!!
Freestyle also sells Holgas. We have sold about 50 so far this year, and
have had a lot of great feedback about the camera and its image
_quality_.
A few pros have shot jobs with the Holga, and the art directors were hot
for the look. A local photography school put a Holga up against a
Hasselblad for a portrait shoot, and the majority of the class preferred
the Holga results! Have FUN is the name of the game.
Regards,
Hank Auderer
From: "Richard Knight" [email protected]
Shoot a slower speed film (or shoot the TriX at a slower speed and develop
accordingly) and use a cheap manual flash to get the correct exposure. Get
the flash off camera using a hot shoe to PC adapter (about $10). Tape a
beat up polarizer or red filter (if using B&W) to the lens to knock off a
couple of stops. Overexposure was my main gripe also when first using the
camera (seemed like I needed a nuclear blast to print the negs). Use
gaffers tape to seal the light leaks (hey it's a $15 camera). Remember to
also tape the back latch as they have a tendency to open after repeated
use. As for vignetting, that depends entirely on the individual camera
(obviously the lens is not manufactured to exacting specs :~)). You might
try using the focus adjustment but I never noticed any difference when
using mine. Toy camera or not, a $15 medium format camera is still cool!
Richard
....
From: [email protected] (Perry White)
Yeah. The most fun in any expensive discipline can came from using
no-cost alternatives. And sometimes the best "art" can come that way too.
The Holga is not much different from shooting pinhole cameras (and if
you meet a pinhole photog on the street, he'll say "oh yeah SURE at
least YOU have a real camera!") . The important approach to all this
equipment is to first determine the limits of your machine.
Once you know the approx exposure range and the approx subject
distance for your lens to produce the look you desire, then you've got
a set of parameters to stay within, Holga or pinhole.
Tri-X is great film. And you do need a filter of a strong color but
NOT for the camera: it's for pre-viewing the scene to determine
whether the scene is a good candidate for black&white (basically, if
the scene will be great in color then it will be awful in
black&white). Your muddy gray photos may have been bad b&w choices no
matter what exposure was used.
The best bw photog I know feels that a great bw photo can be dev'd &
printed TERRIBLY and still looks like a great bw photo.
Anyway, loadup a roll of Tri-X for experimenting. Better yet, loadup
a roll of 400 speed slide film. No flash (flash bw sucks worse than
flash color: it ALL looks like WeeGee's work!).
Shoot differing scenes in differing brightnesses and KEEP A NOTEBOOK
of the conditions when you shot (how bright and how did you support
the camera and did you hold real still or did you flinch). Slide film
lets you see your actual exposures rather than their interpretation by
a lab printer.
Find the limits of your camera, then remember those limits as you
break the rules. You can use your Holga to learn more about
photography & art than others will ever learn in a lifetime with their
Hasselblads & Leicas.
rant rant rant sorry!
Perry White
From Nikon Mailing List:
I have one, or I do when I can pry it out of my 6th grader's hands.
Another nifty change-of-pace is Beseler's assemble-it-yourself 120
cardboard pinhole camera.
regards,
Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video
[Ed. note: Mr. Puts is a noted lens testing expert..]
Johnny asked: "Erwin, do you have a test of the lens on your site?" No,
but here are the results: 7% contrast at 2 lines per mm in the centre,
dropping rapidly in the corners. In the field astigmatism and a strong
amount of flare does degrade the rendition of even coarse detail. Overall
a lens that is not as good as a well executed pinhole "lens". Performance
is low, but price-performance ratio is excellent and it probably is still
better than a Thambar.
Erwin
From Leica Mailing List:
Hey Johnny,
Tape that baby up or you won't see the glow through the film fog!
Seriously, you might want to consider entering some of your Holga images
to "The Toy Camera Challenge" at the Elevator Gallery in Toronto.
www.elevatorgallery.com 1st prise is $1000.00. Not too bad! They are
judging prints, not slides, which is always good. check it out.
Bill Franson
you wrote:
Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2000
Hi Phil
If you can manage 6x9, then a second-hand Box Brownie can cost as little
as 1.50GBP for a 620 film type, or 5GBP for a 120 type. They work at about
f/11, and as a consequence get a fair image out of their simple lens.
If the image quality is as poor as 10LPM (it isn't), then this implies 20
pixels per mm, or 400 per sq. mm. A Box Brownie image therefore has as
much information as a digital camera with 5400sq.mm x 400 pixels/sq.mm =
2.16 megapixels!
Nick Sheldon
indigo wrote in message ...
From: "Wayne D" [email protected]
For her most recent landscape projects she looks for $5.00 specials that
reside in the bottom of camera stores "parts boxes" - the more scratches,
fungus, etc... the better. Undoubtedly they are also uncoated. I don't
think brand loyalty enters into the picture (no pun intended).
Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001
Interested in getting a Holga? Do yourself a favor, don't by pay too much.
You should pay about $15 for the non-flash model and about $25 for one
with a flash. Lately there have been some price gouguers on eBay---some
asking much, much more. Don't be ripped off; here are a couple of
reasonable, reliable places to get one:
http://www.freestylesalesco.com/holga.html
http://www.meworkshops.com/resource/frames/holgaframe.html
Randy [email protected] wrote:
Unusual to find something cheaper in America than here in Australia.
The only source of the Holga here in Melboure wants A$71 or about
US$38 out the door.
THOM
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001
And $15 for 2-9 from the Maine Photographic Workshops, less for more.
http://www.theworkshops.com/resource/frames/holgaframe.html
You can do a lot of cheap modifications to improve the Holga, make a B or
T shutter, or even turn them into pinhole cameras.
http://www.argonauta.com/html/holga_cameras.htm
Clint O'Connor
...
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001
Heck, it's only $15... I buy several at a time.
http://www.theworkshops.com/resource/frames/holgaframe.html
Clint
Date: 4 Jun 2001
Terry Richardson, a highly regarded Photographer, has switched to a
simple p&s after years of using the expensive stuff. He claims he
can't see the difference. In fact, as one of the photographers for
this year's (2001) SI Swimsuit edition, he was shown using this very
simple p&s to take photos, (of his part of the spread,) of these
beautiful Supermodels. He even seemed to be using the flash, and
indeed, some of his photos look like they were flashed-filled. I think
you can check him out on the web. Isn't there a whole group of fine
art photographers in NY that shoot with toy cameras? Now that Yashica
has discontinued the T-4, I would certainly try to get my hands on one
of those. All you have to do is read this NG for awhile to realize
that their are people out there with very expensive equipment that
can't seem to get a picture right. All they do is post to complain
about everything from exposure, to flash, to focus, to equipment. And
of course the ones I love always ask, "If I spend another $5000 on
equpment, don't you think that will improve my photos?" NOT!
Date: Sat, 09 Jun 2001
After years of photographing with 35mm gear, including professional
newspaper and freelance work, I recently switched to medium format. Some
of you, apparently, might chuckle if not outright guffaw when I admit by
'medium format' I mean a YashicaMat 124G and, yes, a Holga. Two, in fact.
But damn, I can't put the Holgas down. I prefer them to the 124G. I was
one of those gear snobs who thought more about the gear than about the
actual use of the gear. One of those who would scoff at the idea of using
a cheap plastic camera for anything serious. Consequently, I was a blocked
photographer who thought a lot and shot little. When I did shoot, I didn't
like what resulted.
It got to the point where I was about to give up thinking of myself as a
photographer when the Holga, without hyperbole, saved me. I haven't had
this much fun since I was a kid with my grandfather's 110.
Isn't that what it's all about - fun? I've subsequently picked up and have
started toying with a Speed Graphic and a Brownie Bulls Eye (with flash
gun and bulbs). I suppose the Graflex is in a different league, but gone
are the days I feel I need expensive gear to take good images.
And by no means am I an art snob. I guess what it really comes down to is
your photographic intention and your passion.
http://www.aracnet.com/~blodgett/holga.html
...
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2001
Hi John,
The follwing might interest you.
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga/what/what.html
It was written by someone who feels the same way you do about the
Holga.
Randy
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001
A Woca is just a Holga with a glass lens.
You can pick one up at the Maine Photographic workshop for $26.00
friend included.
http://www.theworkshops.com/resource/frames/holgaframe.html
Randy
Date: Tue, 07 Aug 2001
I got my first couple rolls back from the Woca. Curiously, though perhaps
not surprisingly, infinity focus seems hit-or-miss; however, the lens does
provide a contrast the plastic Holga lens doesn't. I've never shot with
the insert before using the Woca, so I can't fairly compare side-by-side,
but I enjoy it.
Stats: Ilford XP-2, some with #25 red filter. I think exposure was, oh,
about 1/100th at F/11 ;-) .
http://www.aracnet.com/~blodgett/woca.html
http://www.aracnet.com/~blodgett/holga.html
Date: Tue, 07 Aug 2001
I've never used the cardboard, but rather, some small pieces of thin black
foam, scraps from a craft project, glued inside the spool chamber so as to
cause friction against the spool flange. Cures the problem.
[email protected] (TW406) wrote:
...
Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2001
If you go here:
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga/mods/order/tips/tips.html and look
at the third Holga down, on the take up spool side, you'll see what I use
along with the cardboard at the bottom of each spool.
Just a little bit of springy steel, epoxied in place to keep tension
on the spool when winding. Works like a charm for me.
Randy From: [email protected] (Mark Langer) TW406 ([email protected]) wrote: The McKeown's catalog has
an extensive listing of these, and points out that you can pay anywhere
From: Kelso Lundeen [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Just got a Holga 120-what should I try first?
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002
Yeah, exactly. Have fun. What's with the venomous response?
I just posted a long (slightly off-topic) post to r.p.e.35mm about the
Holga being an ideal travel camera -- and talked a little bit about
the Holga's virtues -- but I'll say again here that the Holga is
really unique little camera.
But my only advice is this: think "whimsy" when you take Holga
pictures. Check your ego at the door, have fun, enjoy it. For $16, it
sorta reminds you about the (dare I say it?) magic of photography.
And:
a) flock -- spray paint -- the interior to cut down on glare and
increase contrast
b) throw away the lens cap
c) velcro or tape the back. It has a tendency to pop off if you're not
careful.
d) throw away the 6X4.5 internal frame and shoot 6X6
e) stick a piece of film box against the film to ensure the film stays
relatively flat
f) get a cheap lens hood (52mm or 55mm works best) and super-glue it
to the front of the lens so you can use filters.
g) and realize that each Holga is slightly different. They have a
range of shutter speeds, it seems.. (I have three Holgas and one
PinHolga -- and each of the non-PinHolgas have slightly different
shutter speeds. As far as I can tell, the shutter ranges from about
1/60 to 1/250 -- depending on the camera. I think 1/100 is the "norm",
though. The PinHolga has a mod'd cable release and bulb setting.)
I know guys who carry a Leica and a Holga in their bags. Go figure.
From: [email protected] (TW406)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Date: 07 Feb 2002
Subject: Re: Holga: In Praise of cheap MF (Re: What is a good starting SLR MF
> Superglue a step-up ring to the front of the lens. Use whichever size your
> filters are. I believe that 55mm fits best, but experiment before you
> commit.
52/58 fits mine; one brand was a friction fit, another I tacked on with a hot
glue gun. For years I just used gels torn from the Roscoe sample book:
honestly, I can't tell the difference.
T
From: RJ [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Holga: In Praise of cheap MF (Re: What is a good starting SLR MF camera?)
Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2002
Have to disagree with you.
If Holga dosn't leak light when new, It's not going to leak light as
it gets older. And if it does leak light when new, it's not going to
increase with age... I've shot hundreds and hundreds of rolls thru my
Holgas and they shoot as good (or as bad as some would say) as the day
they were new.
Just my .02
Randy
[Ed. note: need a filter ring on your low cost camera? here's a tip! ;-0)]
From: "Jim Hand" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Holga: In Praise of cheap MF (Re: What is a good starting SLR MF camera?)
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002
"Kelso Lundeen" [email protected] wrote
> Just curious: what's the best way to attach a filter to a Holga?
Superglue a step-up ring to the front of the lens. Use whichever size your
filters are. I believe that 55mm fits best, but experiment before you
commit.
Jim
From: RJ [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Holga: In Praise of cheap MF (Re: What is a good starting SLR MF camera?)
Date: Tue, 05 Feb 2002
Glue an old filter ring......52mm to the front as shown on my tips
page at:
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga/mods/order/tips/tips.html
Randy
http://home.tecny.rr.com/baddog/holga
from rollei mailing list:
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002
From: "Fox, Robert" [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Rollei] OT: Simple Box and Folding Cameras
One of the best known photographs of the 20th century was taken with a Kodak
Brownie ("Blackpool Girls" by Bert Hardy, 1951.)
R.J.
R.J. Fox
Member Reference Team
Member Communications Mgmt.
(202) 434-3429; [email protected]
From: Stephe [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: A good/fun 120 box camera.
Date: Thu, 09 May 2002
This isn't a for sale as I have no interest nor do I know who is selling
this one. I just wanted to point out I have a couple of this model of
tower box camera and am amazed at how well they work. Most box cameras are
very soft focus but this one is -fairly- sharp from 8 feet to infinity at
it's small f stop and normally sells for less than $10. For someone
looking for a very simple cheap 120 camera, these work very well. Mine has
two choices of waterhouse f stops and a instant or bulb setting. Has a
pretty good finder and is easy to use. I glued a yellow gel behind the lens
onto the end of the film insert and have had fun with it. The other box
cameras I've tried are pretty lame but this guy seems to be a good one,
probably was the $8 instead of the $4 one 8-)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1350605834
I did just get a zeiss tengor and with its single element gortz lens,
might be a good one as well. Something about shooting with something this
simple is just fun to me.
--
stephe
http://www.geocities.com/kievgurl/
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: A good/fun 120 box camera.
Date: Sat, 11 May 2002
[email protected]
(Stephe) wrote:
> This isn't a for sale as I have no interest nor do I know who is
> selling this one. I just wanted to point out I have a couple of this
> model of tower box camera and am amazed at how well they work. Most box
Another good one (IMHO) is the Agfa Synchro box which even boasts a tripod
socket and a standard cable release. Pictures and info at:
http://www.cix.co.uk/~rgivan/synchrobox/synchrobox.html
:-)
Roland.
http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/
From: fotocord [email protected]
Subject: Re: Cheap Intro Medium Format Camera?
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Date: Thu, 30 May 2002
[email protected] wrote:
> > I am in the market for a medium format camera on a college student
> > budget - i currenty have a pentax k1000 and want to get a good
> > realiable medium format camera....Any suggetions would be
> > helpfull....TIA
>
> a: Define "cheap"
>
> b: What kind of photos do you hope to take
>
> c: find a box Brownie, but make sure it uses 120, not 620 film.
I've found the all chrome front Tower box cameras to be much better users
than any of the brownies I've tried. With a yellow or green gel taped
behind the lens inside them, they make very good B&W images. I'm amazed at
how good for how cheap they are ( < $10)
--
Stacey
From: "David J. Littleboy" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Cheap Cameras
Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002
"Al Patrick" [email protected] wrote:
(stuff moved to the bottom)
Speaking of cheap cameras and bankruptcy, it seems Polaroid Japan is pushing
Holga as the ultimate Polaroid. They even took out a whole inside cover page
add in this month's Nippon Camera.
I know: you think I'm joking:
http://www.polaroid.co.jp/product/business/holga/holga_120.html
The first paragraph reads:
"Holga has become synonymous with "toy camera", and is fiercely supported by
camera maniacs around the world. Now, "Holga by Polaroid" answers the dreams
of toy camera freaks everywhere who have long thought "if only we could use
Polaroid film in the world's best toy camera..." Polaroid has developed a
removable Polaroid film holder that requires no modification whatsoever to
the Holga, which is, as you know, a "Brownie film" camera".
(Translator's note: "Brownie" is a standard term in Japanese for MF, and
isn't funny at all. Well, yes it is {g}.)
David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan
> I doubt that. Seems they talked about all the cameras leaking light,
> but you could shoot a test roll to learn where the light leaked and use
> it to enhance (?) your shots. You know! "It's not a bug. It's an
> undocumented feature!"
>
> I think they may have even used the word "toy" in the ad. ;-) Should
> that tell us something?
>
> Al
From: "David J. Littleboy" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Cheap Cameras
Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002
"Gordon Moat" [email protected] wrote:
> Any idea on price for this item?
The film holder is US$70 or so. With the camera, it's US$80 or so
From: fotocord [email protected]
Subject: Re: All wet, was Re: Taking MF plunge in shallow end
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Date: Fri, 07 Jun 2002
Jefro wrote:
> First experiments with the Uniflex, just got some film back!
>
> http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=211888
Just as I expected, not bad at all. From the results I've gotten with some
single element box cameras, just about any medformat camera can produce
nice images!
--
Stacey
From: John Garand [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Cheap Kievs from Russia - risk assessment
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002
Torsten Wiens [email protected] WROTE:
>... better than Kievs. Especially if one's serious with photography
>(and less with precion mechanics), there's just no need to get the
>cheapest gear available. And - sorry again - if one can't even afford
>an older Mamiya 645 (or similar) with some lenses, why bother for MF
>anyway? 35mm is able to do a great job too in most cases (from my
>point of view).
That is one point of view. Somewhat elitist, IMO. If there is a
market for Holgas, then there are some people who wish to try MF
without putting a lot of money into it. Yes, there are far more
reliable cameras out there for the same amount - or even less (e.g.
older TLRs). But these alternatives are often in need of a cla in
order to get started and repairs can be a problem later on. CLA on
something like an Autocord or Rollei isn't horrible, but for a MF SLR
CLAs for the lens(es) and body can double the price of the camera.
People on a budget often don't anticipate these sort of expenses.
An older Mamiya 645 and "some lenses" will run close to (or over) $1k,
depending on how many "some lenses" actually is. Perhaps not in
Germany? There are people who would like to try MF without spending
$1k of their hard earned money.
I have recently acquired a Pentacon 6 TL. I had to find out if the
camera is as bad as so many say. It was sold with CLA and film
spacing marked on a roll in the camera. With the 80 CZJ, a 30mm
Arsat, 65mm Mir and 250mm Jupiter, I'm still way below $1k - in fact
I'm just over what my Super 66 without extra lenses cost me a number
of years ago. I look on it as a "knock around" camera when I don't
want to take the Kowa, but want interchangeable lenses and the
Autocord won't do. When all the lens testing is done, I might be
changing lenses. Or I might not have to.
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Why has no one improved upon the Brownie?
Date: Sat, 27 Jul 2002
John Stafford wrote:
> There's that certain something about the Brownie that the Hasselblad and
> others simply cannot improve upon. I believe it's due to the esoteric design
> of all the parts of the camera - a happy congruence of mistakes that
> innocently conspired to create an ineffable ambience that I can only call
> Photographica Optica Serenity (or POS). N'est pas?
I use box cameras on and off and I've got to say there is a certain charm to
them. I know you'll tell me I'm crazy but I prefer the color obtained from a
meniscus lens to three, four and five element lenses although I have a rare
earth Prominar I haven't tried on color film yet. One place I think the
meniscus might actually outperform more advanced lens designs is on the moody
close up. When using close up lenses on my box cameras, I find that the out of
focus background has a very dreamy appearance which I've only found vintage
cameras capable of obtaining. Don't get me wrong as far as sharpness goes
they're not there. But there's enough there for me to consider picking up an
ancient meniscus folder.
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002
From: "[email protected]" [email protected]
To: All [email protected]
Subject: Capturing Mermaids with a Holga Press Release
Dear Editor,
Visitors to your site might be very interested in this article from New
York Institute of Photography's web site. Please consider linking to it or
reprinting it in your publication.
If you would like permission to run this article, please follow the simple
instructions at the end of this message.
Cordially,
Sharon Gumerove
Webmaster
New York Institute of Photography
212 867-8260
www.nyip.com
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2002
From: Eric [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [HUG] OT: Holgas
Philippe Tempel wrote:
> some slack and becomes unwound a little. I guess
> that's why others take the end of the film box and
> make a small wedge under the film spool? I'm
> suspecting that my first roll will be screwed... :-\
I bought my Holga about 11 years ago from Maine Photographic. Are
they even still around? 10 years later, I have had at least 10 of
them. They all have different characteristics. Out of the 10, I have
given away about 5 of them and now have about 4 or 5 and I usually
have 2 with film at all times. I keep 1 at 645 and 1 at 6x6.
Here's what I've learned over the years with the Holga.
1. Take the end of the 120 film box (the flaps) and rip them out.
2. Tear it in half and fold it in half.
3. Put the the fold halves on the _bottom_ of the film spools like
this: (warning, poor ascii artist in action)
|| ||
|| ||
|| ||
__ __
^^ ^^ those are the paper from the box
This will keep the film a little tight.
4. Take the back cover and look at it from the inside
5. Notice that you will see a sort of like a square lines around the
film counter hole. Takes some paper (like the ones from inside print
paper boxes and cut it to the same size as the square. Cut a hole for
the film counter. Tape that paper on *inside* of the cover. This
will also keep the film nice and tight. Note: This paper should be
thicker than writing paper but thinner than cardboard. This cut
cardboard is about the size of 6x6cm
6. If you are using the 6x6 (the 645 mask taken off) there are 2
little holes in the inside up on top of the lens chamber. Put small
tape in them.
7. Last but not least, you will need to put tape....hard to explain,
let me see if I can do my poor ascii artist action:
_________
f | | f
i | | i
l | | l
m | | m
---------
Imagine the film spool on the left and right hand side of the above
drawing. The lines are the lens chamber box. You'll see if if you've
taken out the 645 mask. Put some tape on the edge of that so the
film will "glide" over it".
All of these are what makes the film really tight on Holgas.
I haven't had to tape the outside of my Holgas after I've done these.
I never have any more light streaks on the film. The *only* tape I
use is to tape the edges because the metal thing that holds the back
in place sometimes moves.
Most of my Holga stuff I print on Ilford Postcard paper and send them
out. Sort of vignettes from sub-urbia.
HTH and sorry for such an OT topic on the HUG list.
--
Eric
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2002
From: Manu Schnetzler [email protected]
To: Hasselblad Users Group list [email protected]
Subject: Re: [HUG] OT: Holgas
Eric wrote:
> HTH and sorry for such an OT topic on the HUG list.
Well isn't this the Holga User Group?
To all new Holga users, I'd recommend:
- http://www.holgamods.com/ - This guy modifies Holgas and sells them:
bulb, tripod mount, cable release, colors, ... that's where I got my
first Holga, but modifying them is fun too, so:
- http://www.toycamera.com/ - Lots of tips on how to modify the camera
and some galleries.
- http://www.digitalsucks.com/ - Tips and galleries.
Manu
From: [email protected] (Jaykhill)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Date: 23 Nov 2002
Subject: Re: A camera under $25?
Sounds like the Russian FOMA, with four (I think) separate lenses and shutters.
They have a certain cachet around the world. There are even FOMA photography
websites.
John Cahill, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
From: John Stafford [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Holga: Where to buy?
Date: Fri, 07 Feb 2003
Randy wrote:
> Drop me an email. I'll work up a good price for you.
>
> www.holgamods.com
Bearing in mind that they cost $2.10 each.
Date: Sat, 08 Feb 2003
From: Rod Sage [email protected]
To: panorama-l [email protected]
Subject: RE: Konica 17mm, new Horizon & 6x24 swing lens
I remember using a Konica 17mm pan disposable 10-15 yrs ago, shortly after
the Kodak Stretch (24mm) came out. As I recall the lens was made from two
layers of plastic with different refraction indexes (not exactly 2
element). Found a picture of the original. Not sure what it has to do with
a Lomo.
http://topspeed_jmv.tripod.com/photos/17.html
If these were introduced in Europe last September they should be coming to
the States by now. Has anyone seen them? Too bad they aren't reloadable and
full frame (but then we couldn't mention it on this list, eh!).
Rod S
From: Brandon Shahan [[email protected]]
Sent: Fri 7/11/2003
To: Monaghan, Robert
Subject: 120 film in a 116-616 camera
Robert,
I stumbled across your pages covering the use of 120 film in older different
format such as 116. I looked everywhere on this huge page and could not
find a way to add to it. I picked up an old brownie 2a model b at an estate
sale and eventually made some spacers to use 120 film in it. I think this
method is a lot simpler than some I read on the page. Heres a web page I
made to show the method and the spacers.
http://www.geocities.com/brandonshahan/120spacer.html
I don't know how much you mess with these older cameras but another great
site with lots of links is the brownie camera site.
http://www.browniecamera.com/
Anyways, thanks for any help,
Brandon
From: [email protected] (jjs)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Holga exposure and processing
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003
"Sherman" [email protected] wrote:
> [...] There is one aperture disk fixed behind the lens and
> one that moves with the switch. The problem is that the _smaller_ of the
> two disks is the one which is fixed so moving the larger one in behind it
> doesn't change the aperture.
Yeah, I was just knocked out when I found that. I can do that! I wonder if
they are looking for anti-quality engineers.
> From: Rich Lahrson [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [Rollei] HOLGA
> Date: Sunday, April 09, 2000 3:20 PM
>
> Hi,
>
> Just before closing last night, I went to get some film at a real
> camera store (Looking Glass, Berkeley, CA) and noticed they are selling
> the Holga roll film camera for about $20.
>
> I had a Diana camera when they came out, but I'm not going to spend
> the money on a Diana today as they are 'collectable' and cost too much.
>
> Anyone use a Holga camera yet, particularly for black and white?
> Any impressions welcomed!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rich Lahrson
> [email protected]
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000
From: Eric Goldstein [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Rollei] HOLGA
> Just before closing last night, I went to get some film at a real
> camera store (Looking Glass, Berkeley, CA) and noticed they are selling
> the Holga roll film camera for about $20.
> (snip)
> Anyone use a Holga camera yet, particularly for black and white?
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000
From: Eric Goldstein [email protected]
Subject: [Rollei] OT- Re: HOLGA/ SHARP SHARP NOT
> The Holga
> doesn't have a flash sync terminal, does it?
> Another problem is that I can always soften a sharp negative but I can't
> sharpen a blurry one.
> Also, how do you convince people that you're serious about taking their
> portraits when you pull out $14 plastic camera?
> Would you like a Rolaids?
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000
From: Bob Shell [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Rollei] OT- Re: HOLGA/ SHARP SHARP NOT
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000
From: "Roger M. Wiser" [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Rollei][OT]- Re: Unsharp lenses
> > I got a kick out of this. I wonder whether we're the only two owning
> > one of these relics?
From: "Ben R. McRee" [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Rollei] Off Topic: Holga Portfolio
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000
From: "John M. Niemann" [email protected]
Subject: [Rollei] HOLGA
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000
From: Hank Auderer [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Rollei] OT: Holga Datasheet
>If you'd like to see what a Holga can do, check out the current issue of
>Lenswork Quarterly, where you'll find a portfolio of black and white images
>by Annu Palakunnathu Matthew. As you'll see, she favors images that
>include steam and fog in the frame, and often shoots against the light,
>accentuating the Holga's dreamy character.
President
River City Silver
www.rivercitysilver.com
Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.art
Subject: Re: Toy Camera disappointment.....
Newsgroups: rec.photo.technique.art
Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000
Subject: Re: Toy Camera disappointment.....
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000
From: Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video [email protected]
Subject: [NIKON] Re: OT Holga camera
> Just wondered if any of you Nikonians ever owned a Holga camera?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
From Leica Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000
From: imx [email protected]
Subject: [Leica] Holga lens test
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000
From: [email protected] (Bill Franson)
Subject: Re: [Leica] the famous Holga 'glow'
>I succumbed and bought a Holga today. How could you not? It's the most
>unbelievably horrible piece of plastic I have ever owned. But there's
>definitely something about it. Will post examples of the fabled Holga 'glow'
>shortly.
>
>Erwin, do you have a test of the lens on your site?
>
>--
>Johnny Deadman
From: "Nick Sheldon" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: REALLY crappy mf camera
>as i've just gotten into darkroom stuff and i'm using an enlarger that can
>do 6x6 format i'd like to know whether there are any really crappy and cheap
>camera in this format... i dont care how bad the quality is.. i just wanna
>play around with some big negatives.. .
>
>thanx, phil :)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001
Subject: Re: Sally Mann Lenses
> Does anyone know the kind of lenses Sally MAnn uses ?
>
> G. Dumont
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: "Rob" [email protected]
Subject: Buying a HOLGA
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: [email protected] (Thom)
Re: New Holga with built in flash
Date: Wed Jul 11 18:37:05 CDT 2001
>Vladimir
>
>The Woca can be picked up at the Maine Photographic Workshop
>http://www.theworkshops.com/resource/frames/holgaframe.html
>for $26.00 ........ Freight included
From: "Clint O'Connor" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace.medium-format
Subject: Re: Buying a HOLGA
From: "Clint O'Connor" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Holga Modifications
From: [email protected] (travglen)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: I'm gonna buy the crappiest camera I can find...
From: John Blodgett [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Toy/Vintage Cameras
From: Randy [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Toy/Vintage Cameras
From: Randy [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: The Woca
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga
From: John Blodgett [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: First Woca shots
From: [email protected] (qwerty)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Holga Question
> Anyone found a way to successfully avoid the streaks from a loosely wound
> finished roll? I've been using some cardboard under the spool to add some
> tension as it winds but its still only a 50/50 success rate. Seems to be worse
> without the insert for the 6x6 format. I'm about to start unloading in a
> changing bag!
From: Randy [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Holga Question
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Holga, Diana, any Others?
Date: 21 Aug 2001
> Actually, I initially found the Holga image too good, so I've slowly been
> distressing the lens to give me more the quality I'm after. I just got
another
> one to try and take in another direction.
> The Diana I'm after on ebay is named something else. Seems the same camera
was
> sold under a number of different names. Just looking for info on alternates.
The company that made the Diana camera made a fascinating range of cameras
with the same lens and the same or similar shutters. For a while, I was
collecting these, but have sold some of them off and will probably do so
with the others as I need the dough for other things at the moment. But
they are cool little cameras with a special appeal and endless variations.
You might keep your eyes out for cameras with names like Banner, Linda,
Photon, Asiana, Windsor, Reader's Digest, etc.
from $1 to $100 for any of them. No one really knows all the names that
they appeared under. The trick is to recognize the basic Diana bodies and
lens -- the rest of the camera is just cosmetically different. There are
two basic forms -- the original No. 151 Diana and the later Diana F with a
heavier body and flash. Most variations are in the shape of the top of the
camera or the colours of the plastic. Some F variants have a shutter
release on the top of the body. Any of these will give you the Diana
"quality" of images, and are as prone to light leaks, flare, falloff and
distortion as the original 151 Diana. But a Diana with any other name
on it but Diana will give you the same camera at a lower price. The name
is only important to people with some special collecting purpose, or to
idiots who don't realize that Dianas were made under a variety of names
and shapes.
Mark
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Flash sync on old box cameras
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002
I have a lot of 120 and 127 old box cameras that I like to use every
once in a while, just for fun or for a vintage look. As many of you
old-timers know these cameras were made to be used with a bulb-flash. I
have the flash attachments and a reasonable amount of bulbs. Also on
eBay large lots of these bulbs come up for sale every so often. I know
this sounds crazy, but I'd like to use a standard electronic flash with
these cameras, just because the bulbs are such a pain. The problem I
think I'm going to have is that the cameras should be synched for the
bulb flash, not an electronic flash. Now I've read on the internet that
you can jerry-rig the metal contacts inside these cameras to make them
sync with an electronic flash, but I'm not up to doing that with so many
cameras. I believe with a proper bulb sync, and it should be noted I'm
assuming these cameras are synched properly to begin with, involves
"firing" the flash a few milliseconds before the shutter. Now if this
is the case I would think there would be some type of delay attachment I
could use to sync up these vintage boxes with a electronic flash. Any
assistance would be much appreciated.
From: "Roland" [email protected]>
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: Flash sync on old box cameras
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002
You only have a problem if the flash contact is made before the shutter
opens. But since these old box cameras often had a fixed shutter speed of
1/30th sec then that would have given plenty of time for the bulb to ignite
and burn out so maybe the contact is made when the shutter was fully open.
In which case you can use electronic flash. Why don't you take the back off
the camera and look through the lens when the shutter is fired and the flash
goes off? If you see bright light through the lens when you fire the shutter
then your camera will work fine with flash just as it is. If not then
obviously the contact is made before the shutter is open and you have a
problem.
[email protected]> wrote
> I have a lot of 120 and 127 old box cameras that I like to use every
> once in a while, just for fun or for a vintage look. As many of you
> old-timers know these cameras were made to be used with a bulb-flash. I
> have the flash attachments and a reasonable amount of bulbs. Also on
> eBay large lots of these bulbs come up for sale every so often. I know
> this sounds crazy, but I'd like to use a standard electronic flash with
> these cameras, just because the bulbs are such a pain. The problem I
> think I'm going to have is that the cameras should be synched for the
> bulb flash, not an electronic flash. Now I've read on the internet that
> you can jerry-rig the metal contacts inside these cameras to make them
> sync with an electronic flash, but I'm not up to doing that with so many
> cameras. I believe with a proper bulb sync, and it should be noted I'm
> assuming these cameras are synched properly to begin with, involves
> "firing" the flash a few milliseconds before the shutter. Now if this
> is the case I would think there would be some type of delay attachment I
> could use to sync up these vintage boxes with a electronic flash. Any
> assistance would be much appreciated.
>
From: [email protected] (LEDMRVM)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Date: 17 Aug 2001
Subject: Re: Holga, Diana, any Others?
>tw406 told us (with snippage):
>>The Diana I'm after on ebay is named something else. Seems the same camera
>>was
>>sold under a number of different names. Just looking for info on alternates.
>
>The Diana clone that I have bears the name "Arrow".
>
According to McKeown's 2001-2002 Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, Diana
appeared under the following name variations:
Acme, Annie, Arrow, Arrow Flash, Asiana, Banier, Banner, Colorflash Deluxe,
Debonair, Diana, Diana Deluxe, Diana F, Dionne F2, Dories, Flocon RF, Gray
Line, Hi-Flash, Justen, Lina, Lina S, Mark L, MegoMatic, Merit, Mirage, Panax,
Photon 120, Pioneer, Pokey, Raliegh, Reliance, Revue, Roscoe, Rover, See,
Shakeys, Stellar, Stellar Flash, Tina, Traceflex, True-View, Valiant, Windsor,
Zip, Zodiac, and others.
Regards,
Ed Matthew
From: Randy [email protected]>
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace
Subject: FS: Holga 120S Medium Format Cameras, Pinhole Holgas and spare Holga lenses
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001
Modifed Holga 120S Medium Format Toy Cameras:
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga
Optional Modifications:
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga/mods/mods.html
New! PinHolga:
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga/pinholga/pinholga.html
Spare Holga Lenses:
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga/lens/lens.html
Holga Tips:
http://home.twcny.rr.com/baddog/holga/mods/order/tips/tips.html
From: "Nicholas O. Lindan" [email protected]>
Newsgroups:
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format,rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: Finding a bad lens for a good camera
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001
Mark Anderson wrote:
>
> Suppose I'm intrigued by the fun some people have with toy cameras such
> as the Holga, w/ plastic lens. (I might buy one, but that's beside the
> point.)
>
> Suppose I occasionally want to take such a distorted, poor resolution
> photo with my Baby Linhof or 4x5 field camera (or even 35 mm SLR).
There's lots of bad lenses around: a magnifying glass, reading
glasses, cheap close-up lenses ....
Unscrew your good lens from it's shutter, mount the Apo-Krapagon
lens of your choice to the shutter with electrical tape and have fun.
Use a paper towel tube as a barrel and play around with pairs of
close up lenses - if the lens is symmetrical it will fix 1/2 of
the distortions.
Take the front cell from one lens and combine with the back cell
of another.
Use 1/2 of a tessar or cooke triplet.
You can also do the same with 35mm and MF using a bellows, works
great for 100mm & up.
--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio [email protected]
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
From: "John Nobiletti" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace
Subject: FS: Diana to Mamiya lens Mods to fit MAMIYA 645
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002
Diana Lens Conversions:
I've been making lens conversions of Diana/Banner cameras to work on a REAL
camera body: The Mamiya 645 series for over 5 years. It works on ALL models
from the J body on up to the current PRO TL.
You get:
TL metering!
Polaroid back use- (so your client won't think you're nuts)
Full range of shutter speeds
A wider range of apertures (with the ability to customize your own!)
And of course, a true SLR viewfinder so you can really focus!
plus a 645 frame as opposed to 4x4cm (this allows you
to crop and place your center focus off center for
more creative composing)
Macro focusing with extension rings or bellows!
There was a write up in PhotoDistrict news a few years ago, and I've
produced over a hundred for Professional Photographers through out the
country.
Banners work really well - and Dianas wide open take on a whole new look.
I can custom set focusing ranges for individual preferences...
Email me if interested,
Doug Nobiletti
[email protected]
Soon to be working web site: http://home.hvc.rr.com/toylens/
Capturing Mermaids with a Holga